Stackable container with removable holders

ABSTRACT

A stackable container ( 100 ) for storing panels includes a box ( 61 ) including a plurality of sidewalls ( 62, 64 ) and a bottom ( 63 ), the sidewalls and bottom cooperatively defining a receiving space having an opening ( 66 ); and a holding means ( 70, 80, 90 ) removably engaged in the box, for receiving and holding the panels in the box; wherein an area of the opening is larger than an area of the bottom. When the stackable container is not in use, the holding means can be removed, so that the box is empty. A plurality of the boxes can then easily be stacked. In addition, a plurality of the holding means can be easily stored together. Consequently, the stackable container saves a great deal of space during storage and transportation thereof. Thus, the costs of storage and transportation of the stackable container are reduced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a type of container usually used in large numbers, and more particularly to a stackable container for holding and transporting objects such as LCD panels.

2. Description of the Prior Art

When LCD displays are mass produced, the process usually includes a preliminary process for fabricating LCD panels, and then an assembly process for attaching backlight modules, driving circuits and frames to the LCD panels to thereby produce the LCD displays. The preliminary process and the assembly process are generally performed at different work areas of a factory. The fabricated LCD panels are commonly placed in containers, which are then transported to the assembly work area. The containers protect the LCD panels from damage, and help reduce production costs.

Taiwan patent publication No. 456363 issued on Sep. 21, 2001 discloses a container for holding fragile LCD panels. Referring to FIG. 5, the container includes a body 1, a cover 2, and removable slotted plates 3, 4. The body 1 and the cover 2 are made of an expanded plastic having a low coefficient of expansion. The slotted plates 3, 4 are made of an expanded plastic having a high coefficient of expansion.

The body 1 includes a pair of opposite sidewalls, and a partition wall 11 midway between the sidewalls. At least two pairs of mutually opposite arrays of insertion slots 12 are defined in the sidewalls and the partition wall 11. First recesses 13 are defined in a bottom of the body 1. Second recesses 21 are defined in a top of the cover 2. The slotted plates 3, 4 respectively define a plurality of slots 31, 41 in one side thereof. The slotted beams 3 further include a backboard 32 that can be inserted into corresponding inserted slots 12 of the body 1. The slotted bottom beams 4 are mounted in the recesses 13, 21 of the body 1 and the cover 2, with fastening protrusions 42 of the slotted bottom beams 4 engaging in fastening sockets 44 located at the first recesses 13 and the second recesses 21. LCD panels are then inserted into the slots 31 of the slotted beams 3, and the cover 2 is mounted onto the body 1. Thus top and bottom ends of the LCD panels are held in the slots 41 of the slotted bottom beams 4 that are located in the bottom of the body 1 and the top of the cover 2 respectively.

Because the slotted beams 3 and the slotted bottom beams 4 are made of an expanded plastic having a high coefficient of expansion, they provide adequate shock-proofing so as to protect the LCD panels from damage during loading, transportation and unloading. In addition, the body 1 and the cover 2 are made of an expanded plastic having a low coefficient of expansion, so that they can withstand external impact and protect the LCD panels from damage.

After the LCD panels are unloaded from the containers, the empty containers must be taken back to the loading area where LCD panels are fabricated. The empty containers occupy a large space, which makes their transportation unduly efficient, and this in effect increases costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a stackable container that can increase the efficiency of its mass transportation and thereby reduce costs.

In order to achieve the above objective, a stackable container for storing panels includes a box including a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom, the sidewalls and bottom cooperatively defining a receiving space having an opening; and a holding means removably engaged in the box, for receiving and holding the panels in the box; wherein an area of the opening is larger than an area of the bottom.

When the stackable container is not in use, the holding means can be removed, so that the box is empty. A plurality of the boxes can then easily be stacked. In addition, a plurality of the holding means can be easily stored together. Consequently, the stackable container saves a great deal of space during storage and transportation thereof. Thus, the costs of storage and transportation of the stackable container are reduced.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a stackable container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a box of the stackable container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the stackable container of FIG. 1 fully assembled;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of three boxes of three stackable containers of FIG. 1 being stacked together; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a stackable container 100 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a box 60, a holding means 61, and a cover 50.

Referring to FIG. 2, the box 60 is made of a plastic that can prevent the buildup of static electricity. The box 60 includes a pair of opposite first sidewalls 62, a pair of opposite second sidewalls 64, and a bottom 63 (see FIG. 3). The first sidewalls 62, the second sidewalls 64 and the bottom 63 cooperatively define a receiving space therebetween, the receiving space having an opening 66. A peripheral flange 65 extends horizontally outwardly from a top end of the box 60 at the opening 66. The box 60 has a trapezoidal profile when viewed from an end elevation opposite either first sidewall 62. Similarly, the box 60 has a trapezoidal profile when viewed from an end elevation opposite either second sidewall 64. That is, the box 60 is slightly flared from bottom to top, with an area of the opening 66 being slightly larger than an area of the bottom 63.

The holding means 61 includes two first slotted beams 70, two second slotted beams 80, and a slotted bottom beam 90. The first slotted beam 70, the second slotted beams 80, and the slotted bottom beam 90 are all made of an expanded plastic having a high coefficient of expansion, such as expanded polypropylene (EPP). Each first slotted beam 70 defines a plurality of parallel first slots 72. A first fastening protrusion 71 is formed on each of opposite ends of the first slotted beam 70. Each second slotted beam 80 has an “L” shaped profile. The second slotted beam 80 defines a plurality of parallel “L” shaped second slots 82. A second fastening protrusion is formed on each of opposite ends of the second slotted beam 80. The slotted bottom beam 90 defines a plurality of parallel third slots 92. A third fastening protrusion 91 is formed on each of opposite ends of the slotted bottom beam 90.

Referring also to FIG. 3, two parallel recesses 67 are defined in an inside portion of the bottom 63 of the box 60, adjacent the first sidewalls 62 respectively. A recess 68 is defined in a middle of the inside portion of the bottom 63, between the recesses 67. The bottom 63 thus defines two parallel raised portions 69 respectively between the recesses 67, 68. Each second sidewall 64 defines two first fastening sockets 641, two second fastening sockets 643 (only one visible), and a third fastening socket (not visible). The first fastening sockets 641 are located at top inside comers of the second sidewall 64. The second fastening sockets 643 are located at bottom inside comers of the second sidewall 64. The third fastening socket is located in a middle of a bottom portion of the second sidewall 64.

The cover 50 defines a channel 51 in a periphery of an underside thereof. The channel 51 fasteningly receives the flange 65 of the box 60, so that the cover 50 is tightly attached onto the box 60. Consequently, the cover 50 and the box 60 cooperatively define a sealed space therein. Preferably, a gasket (not shown) is disposed in the channel 51, to increase the hermetic sealing of the cover 50.

In assembly of the stackable container 100, the second slotted beams 80 are mounted into the recesses 67 of the box 60, with the second fastening protrusions 81 removably engaging in the second fastening sockets 643. The slotted bottom beam 90 is mounted in the recess 68, with the third fastening protrusions 91 removably engaging in the third fastening sockets. The first slotted beams 70 are mounted in an upper portion of the box 60, with the first fastening protrusions 71 removably engaging in the first fastening sockets 641. After such mounting, the first slots 72, the second slots 82, and the third slots 92 are aligned with each other in one-to-one correspondence, for cooperatively receiving and holding LCD panels.

Referring also to FIG. 4, when the stackable container 100 is not in use, the cover 50, the first slotted beams 70, the second slotted beams 80 and the slotted bottom beam 90 can be removed so that the box 60 is empty. A plurality of the boxes 60 can then easily be stacked. The raised portions 69 of each box 60 restrict the depth to which the next box 60 can enter the receiving space, which makes it easier to separate the boxes 60 later on when needed.

In addition, the cover 50 is substantially a flat board, so that a plurality of the covers 50 can easily be stacked. Furthermore, a plurality of the slotted beams 70, 80 and the slotted bottom beams 90 can be easily stored together. Consequently, the stackable container 100 saves a great deal of space during storage and transportation thereof. Thus, the costs of storage and transportation of the stackable container 100 are reduced.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A stackable container for storing panels, comprising: a box including a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom, the sidewalls and bottom cooperatively defining a receiving space having an opening; and a holding means removably engaged in the box, for receiving and holding the panels in the box; wherein an area of the opening is larger than an area of the bottom.
 2. The stackable container as recited in claim 1, wherein the holding means comprises a pair of first slotted members removably engaged between two opposite second sidewalls of the box.
 3. The stackable container as recited in claim 2, wherein the sidewalls include a pair of opposite first sidewalls and the pair of opposite second sidewalls, the four sidewalls being sloped such that the box is flared from bottom to top.
 4. The stackable container as recited in claim 2, further comprising a cover, the cover and the box cooperatively defining a sealed space.
 5. The stackable container as recited in claim 4, wherein the box further includes a flange surrounding the opening, and the cover defines a peripheral channel, the channel fasteningly receiving the flange.
 6. The stackable container as recited in claim 5, wherein a gasket is disposed in the channel in order to increase hermetic sealing of the cover.
 7. The stackable container as recited in claim 2, wherein the holding means further comprises a slotted bottom beam engaged on the bottom of the box.
 8. The stackable container as recited in claim 3, wherein each second sidewall has two first fastening sockets, each first slotted member has a first fastening protrusion at each of opposite ends thereof, and the first fastening protrusions are removably engaged in the first fastening sockets such that the first slotted members are removably engaged in the box.
 9. The stackable container as recited in claim 7, wherein a middle part of the bottom of the box defines a second recess, each second sidewall further has a third fastening socket corresponding to the second recess, the slotted bottom beam has a third fastening protrusion at each of opposite ends thereof, and the third fastening protrusions are removably engaged in the third fastening sockets such that the slotted bottom beam is removably engaged in the second recess.
 10. The stackable container as recited in claim 3, wherein the holding means further comprises a pair of second slotted members engaged on the bottom of the box adjacent the first sidewalls respectively.
 11. The stackable container as recited in claim 10, wherein the bottom of the box defines a pair of first recesses adjacent the first sidewalls respectively, each second sidewall has two second fastening sockets at both comers thereof respectively, each second slotted member has a second fastening protrusion at each of opposite ends thereof, and the second slotted members are removably engaged in the first recesses, with the second fastening protrusions being removably engaged in the second fastening sockets.
 12. The stackable container as recited in claim 2, wherein the first slotted members are made of expanded polypropylene.
 13. The stackable container as recited in claim 7, wherein the slotted bottom beam is made of expanded polypropylene.
 14. The stackable container as recited in claim 10, wherein the second slotted members are made of expanded polypropylene.
 15. The stackable container as recited in claim 2, wherein the box is made of a plastic that can prevent the buildup of static electricity.
 16. A stackable container assembly comprising: a plurality of containers stacked upon one another, each of said containers including a box defined by four side walls and a bottom wall which commonly constitute a receiving space with a top opening; at least an abutment device formed on an interior surface of at least one of the bottom wall and the side walls for not only supporting another container which is stacked thereon and is essentially located in the receiving space, but also positioning corresponding holding devices which are positioned on said interior surface for holding panels in a parallel relation with one another when said another container is removed from the receiving space through said top opening.
 17. The stackable container assembly as claimed in 16, wherein said at least one of the bottom wall and the side wall is the bottom wall.
 18. A stackable container assembly comprising: a container defining a box configuration with a bottom wall and four side walls which commonly form a receiving space being upwardly open to an exterior; and at least one raised device formed on an exterior surface of at least one of said bottom wall and said side walls; wherein said at least one raised device is configured to cooperate with at least one of said bottom wall and said side walls to position a holding device, which is removably disposed in the receiving space and defines slots for holding panels.
 19. The stackable container assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein said raised device further provides a spacing function to supportably position another container under a condition that the holding device is removed from the receiving space and said another container is essentially stacked upon the container and disposed in the receiving space instead for saving space in storing a plurality of containers. 